Automatic crossing-gate



C. P. KNAPP.

AUTOMATIC CROSSING GATE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. I0. 1917 1,329,188, Patented Jan. 27,1920.

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wmmtoz C. P. KNAPP.

AUTOMATIC CROSSING GATE. APPLICATION FILED NOV-10.1917.

1,329,188, Patented Jan. 27,1920.

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avvve-mtoz maria? P 11 nap '0 CHARLES P. KNAPP, OF ROCHESTER, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC CROSSING-GATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

Application filed November 10, 1917. Serial No. 201,883.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that 1, CHARLES P. KNAPP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Lorain and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Crossing-Gates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway crossing gates and aims to rovide an electrically operated gate in which the circuits are closed by the train, to automatically lower the gate that it will be ready to raise or lower the gate as the case may be, upon the approach or departure of the train.

The invention also aims to provide means for delaying the operation of the-raising mechanism after the gate has been lowered until the train is over the crossing, which consists in automatically breaking the raising circuit and automatically re'e'stablishing the same after the train has passed.

The invention further aims to provide audible and visual signals included in the circuit, so that in addition to lowering the gate, warning will be given of the approach of the train.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear when the followingdescription is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a railway crossing showing the circuit closing rail in position adjacent the track rail. 4

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the manner in which the motor'is connected to the gate.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional viewthrough the reversing switch casing, with the switch in position therein.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view through the reversing switch casing showwith ing the connection between said switch and the gate operating gear and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuits.

Referring to the drawin in detail, wherein like characters of re erence denote corresponding parts, there is illustrated in Fig. 1 a railway track of a double track system, but it is obvious that the invention may be applied to single track system'by duplicating the mechanism upon the opposite side of the crossin In the form of the invention illustrate one of the rails A has located adjacent thereto a contact strip 10 of resilient metal, this strip being located a suitable distance in advance of the crossing B and being so spaced from the rail upon the inside thereof, that the flange of the car wheels will bridge-the space between this strip and the adjacent rail. The strip 10 may be secured to the cross ties G as shown, or it may be secured in position by any other suitable means. v

The contact strip 10 is included in an electric circuit, in which is also included a series motor 12 and a reversing switch 27, one side of this switch L being hereinafter designated the lowering side and the other side of the switch R hereinafter designated the raising side, a pivoted operating arm 31 being adapted to close the switch upon either side by means of mechanism hereinafter de scribed.

The lowering side of the reversing switch 27 is included-in a circuit which receives its source of energy from the battery 11, a conductor 11 extending from one side of this battery to the rail A, While conductors 11 and 11 connect one of the switch bars shown at 11 with the strip 10. The switch bar 11 is connected to the armature side of the motor 12 through the medium of a conductor 11 the other side of the motor connecting the other switch bar 11 by means of a. conductor 11 The field side of the motor is connected with the switch bar 11 by means of a conductor 11, a conductor 11 leading from this side of the motor back to the battery 11. This comprises the lowerin circuit, which when completed by means 0? the wheels of the train will operate the motor to lower the gate.

The raising side R of the switch 27 is connected to the contact bar 10 by means of the conductor 11 this conductor connecting with the switch bar 14:, which when closed establishes a circuit through the conductor 14 and a relay 13, which latter is connected to the battery 11 by means of the conductor 14. A conductor 14 is tapped onto the conductor 11 and connects the opposite side of the battery 11, through the medium of the armature switch 13 of the relay 13 with the switch bar 14". When this bar is closed electrical connection will be established through the medium of the conductor 14' with the armature side of the motor 12 and through the switch arm 14 and the conductor 14, through the conductor 11 and through the field side of the motor, the conductor 11 back to the battery 11.

To provide a warning signal of the approach of the train, a conductor 15 tapped onto the conductor 11 and connected to the contact rail 10 has included therein a bell 15 and a light 15 a circuit being established through the wheels of the train, back to the battery through the conductor 11.

Driven by the motor 12 is a gear 17 which is contained within a housing 18 suitably positioned adjacent the crossing. The gear 17 drives a beveled segment gear 19, which in turn drives the beveled gear 20 located upon one end of a shaft 21 mounted in suitable bearings 22 secured within an extension 23 of the housing 18. The opposite end of the shaft 21 has mounted thereon a beveled pinion 24, which drives a beveled gear 25, mounted upon a shaft 26 upon which the gate 16 is secured.

The reversing switch designated at 27 and previously referred to is located within a suitable casing 28 secured within the housing 18' and includes an arm 29 carrying upon each end the contacts of the switch bars, the lowering side L of this switch being provided with the switch bars 11 and 11, while the opposite side R is provided with three switch bars 14 14 and 14 The arm 29 is mounted upon a supporting arm 31, fulcrumed as shown at 32, and so positioned that swinging the arm upon this fulcrum the contacts at either end of the arm 29 will engage their respective fixed contacts secured within the casing, to close the circuit upon either side of the switch. The arm 29 is operated through the medium of a pin and slot connection, the pin 36 carried by the arm 29, operating in a slot 37 provided in a gear 38 driven from the gearing 17, the length of the slot being so proportioned that the pin 36 will be moved to reverse the switch as the gate 16 reaches the limit of its movement.

In the operation of the gate, a train ap' lowering side L of the reversing switch is closed, current will flow through one side of the battery 11, through the conductor 11, the rail A, the wheel of the train, the con tact strip 10, the conductor 11", the conductor 11, the switch bar 11, the conductor 11 through the armature side of the motor, then through the conductor 11 the switch bar 11, the conductor 11*, the field side of the motor and through the conductor 11 to the opposite side of battery. As the gate 16 reaches its lowermost position, the switch arm 29 is drawn from the lowering side of the switch to the raising side, breaking the circuit through the side L and establishing the circuit through the side R, leaving the switch in position to raise the gate. Before the gate has been raised however, current flowing from the battery 11 through the conductor 11 the rail A and the bar 10 as previously described, will flow through the conductor 11 and the switch bar 14 and through the coil of the relay 13 by way of the conductor 11", the conductors 14 14 completing the circuit to the opposite side of the battery 11. This will operate the relay 13 to interrupt the circuit from the battery 11 through the conductor 14 by raising the switch arm 13. As soon as the train passes from contact with the strip 10, the magnet of the relay 13 will be denergized, permitting the switch arm 13 to fall and establish the circuit from the conductor li to the switch bar 14", through the conductor 14 and the armature side of the motor 12. Current from the other side of the motor will flow through the switch bar 14 the conductor 14, the field side of the motor 12 and through the conductors 11 back to the battery 11. This will operate the niotor to raise the gate, the operating mechanism serving to reverse the switch to make connection from the lowering side as previously described. If desired the motor circuit for raising the gate may be closed through the medium of a normally closed switch 40 included in the relay circuit, so as to deenergize the magnet of the relay when the wheel is in contact with the strip 10 should this be desired.

Various changes may be made in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

1. The combination with a gate, of normally open electric circuits, a motor included in said circuits, mechanism including gears operated by the motor for raising and lowering the gate, a reversing switch and a pin carried by the switch for engagement with the slot in one of said gears,

whereby the switch will be automatically reversed at the end of each operation of the mechanism.

2. The combination with a railway gate, of normally open circuit, a motor included in said circuit, mechanism including a gear for raising and lowering the gate, aswitch also mounted upon the gear shaft and a pin and slot connection between the gear and switch for moving the latter in reverse di- 10 rection at each operation of the motor.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHAS. P. KNAPP. 

